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J. A. WAGENER. Braid Guide for Sewing Machines.

Patented June 28, 1864 nvrfyfa q UN TEn STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

JEPTHA A. WAGENEH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No 43,355, dated June 28,1864.

To all whom "it mag concern Be it known that I, JEPTHAA. WAGENER,

rcription thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings,making a part of this specification, in 'which Figure l is a perspectiveview of the im; proved braider, showing its operation. Fig. 2 is a topview of the braider. Fig. 3 is a bottom or under side view of thesame.Fig.4 is a vertical longitudinal section, showing the braider inposition for operation.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

The object of my invention is to sew braid or cord upon the surfaces offabrics by machinery in a more perfect manner than hitherto, employingfor the purpose asmall instrument, which, while it serves a practicalpurpose as a pressure-pad for keeping the fabric down upon the bed ofthe sewing-machine, will also properly guide, smooth, and direct thebraid under the needle and keep the braid down closely upon the work, aswill be hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

The plate a is curved in such manner that when it is attached to theoverhanging arm of the sewing-machine, or, rather, to the springbarwhich is applied to that arm, one end will press upon the work and theother end will be elevated some distance above it out of the way. Thatportion of plate a which impinges upon the work during the operation ofsewing is curved longitudinallyi. 6., the heel and toe of this portioncurve-upward, leaving but a small portion of its surface to act upon thefabric, as shown in Fig. 4. At this bearing-point I form a'littlcbridge, 11, by slotting and grooving the pad longitudinally. The slot 0is oblong, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the bridge I)being nearer one end than the other, and the grooved is made through theforward end of the pad on its lower side, and extends back under therear edge of the slot, so as to form a channel, through which the cordor braid is passed over the bridge I), as indicated in red lines, Fig.4. The lower surface of the bridge I) is flush with the lower surface ofthe pad;

but the upper surface of the bridge is depressed below the upper surfaceof the pad, so that this bridge is made as thin as possible to beconsistent with strength, in order to allow the braid, when passedthrough the channel d, to be brought down closely upon the fabric towhich it is to be stitched.

In using this braider the common pressurepad of the sewing-machine isremoved and the former applied to the spring-bar in its stead. The cordor braid is passed through the channel d and over the bridge b. All thatis necessary to do now is to introduce the fabric to be braided underthe braider, allow the latter to press down upon it, and start themachine, the cord or braid being drawn through the braider as fast asthe work proceeds and the needle passing down between the bridge I) andthe rear end of the oblong slot.

The advantages of my braider over any other are that the braid is guidedup to the needle by the sides of the oblong slot 0 and passed straightup to the needle without being drawn over or under an angular edge,which causes friction, stretches the braid, and leaves the work veryuneven. In my braider the braid is as freeto pass through it as thefabric is to be fed up to the needle. Consequently one material will notbe stretched more thanthe other, and the finished work will be smoothand present a neat appearance. The bridge b protects the braid frombeing pressed and helddown too tightly, and at the same time keeps thebraid from working from under the pad or working out ofplace in the pad,while, finally, the slot above the bridge is open the full width of thebraid, and thus the operator can at all times inspect the work before itleaves the pad.

It will be seen that the distinguishing characteristics of my braiderare these, viz: The guiding'slot d d, through which the brad passes, isextended longitudinally both in front and in rear of the bridge 0, alsovertically up above the top surface of the bridge I) to a degree almostif not quite equal to the thickness of the braid, and by reason of thisa straight longitudinal channel is formed under the foot of the braiderfor the braid to be introduced into (directly under the foot a) from thefront of the foot, and after the braid is thus introduced it will be soconfined against lateral movement that it cannot slip out of the guide,and will pass over the bridge b in a straight or in so nearly a straightline that "ery little, if any, of the friction usual with other braiderswill be produced, inasmuch as the braid makes no angles ,in its passagethrough my braider, which is not the case in other braiders.

My braider requires no more manipulation in its use afterit is appliedto the machine than is necessary to thread a needle. The cost ofmanufacturing it is very small, and therefore it can be afi'or'ded ascheaply as any other braider known.

My braider-foot serves when used as a pressure-foot as well as acentering and controlling device to the braid or cord. It always keepsthe cord or braid in proper position with respect to the needle, nomatter how large or how small may be the needle-slot of tbe foot of thebraider. Further, the braid can be introduced under the foot in astraight line, and therefore the braid does not require to be firstpassed in one direction and then in another in order to get it inworking relation with the braider-foot. in one sense I'have only to passthe braid through one straight hole or channel. Again, in most instancesI can introduce the braid without handling the braider to anyinconvenient extent. In fact, it might be introduced under the footwithout elevating the foot. These advantages are not secured in any 7braider-foot which serves the twofold purpose of a braiding and pressurefoot or pad.

I do not wish to be understood as claiming that 1 am the inventor of abraider foot or pad, per 8651101111313 I claim a bridge, per se, in suchv a foot or pad for the braid to bear against when pressure-toot; but

What I do claim as new and my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

1. Providing for the passage of the braiding material over a bridge, b,and through a channel, d (Z, which is below the top surface of theslotted portion of the braider foot or pad a, substantially in themanner and for the purpose described.

2. So constructing the slotted portion of the braider foot or pad toWith a depressed biidge, b, and a groove or slot, 61 d, in a plane abovethe bridge, and an intersecting or needle slot, 0, that the braid can bepassed under the foot or pad and over the bar or bridge in a straight ornearly straight line, and also be sewed upon the cloth through the topof the foot or pad and inspected before it passes from under the foot orpad, all in the manner set forth.

3. The combination of the depressed bridge I), slot (1 d, andpressure-foot a, the whole constructed, arranged, and operating in themanner substantially as described.

JEPTHA A. WAGENER. Witnesses:

CHARLES DUFFY, W. COVERT.

